Catholics in Gaza: «Jerusalem is occupied»

Roman Catholics in the Gaza Strip are having mixed feelings about Pope Benedict XVI and his upcoming visit to Israel. – We’ll tell him that this is not the right moment to come and visit the holy places, while Jerusalem is occupied, says Father Manuel Mussalem

While some are angry that the Pope will not be visiting Gaza on his visit, others are dubious that his visit to the region will change anything.

Christians in Gaza have felt the effects of an Israeli blockade on the region since Islamist group Hamas took over the territory in 2007. Earlier this year Gaza was the scene of a short but intense military campaign by Israel in response to Hamas rocket attacks.

There is only one Catholic church in Gaza, which has around 200 members. The leader of the church, Father Manuel Mussalem, said:
– We will ask him [the Pope] why he came, what he intends on saying to the Christians, the Jews, the Muslims and why he isn’t coming to Gaza, reports AFP.

Around 2,500 Christians live in Gaza amongst a population of 1.5 million Muslims. Dozens of Christians left the territory of Gaza following the rise to power of Hamas in the area. Those that remain have said the Pope, who wants to encourage believers to stay in the Holy Land, should have visited Gaza.

Rania Mikhail, 32, who studies English at the Holy Family School, said, “We would have liked it if he came here. We are happy that he is coming to Palestine, but what can he do for us?

– We want him to do something for Gaza, not only for the Christians, but also for the Muslims who are living in this prison [Gaza]. We would have liked him to come to Gaza since no one pays attention to what happens to us.”

“When [Pope] Benedict announced in early March that he would visit the Holy Land in May to pray ‘for the precious gift of unity and peace for the Middle East and for all of humanity’, many Gaza Catholics were not pleased … They urged the pontiff to shun Israel in protest at its December-January onslaught on impoverished Gaza that killed more than 1,400 Palestinians.”

Bassam Shahtoot, a member of the Nazareth Roman Catholic parish council, said, – We had mixed feelings at first about the visit … We want the Pope to come, but the timing is problematic because of the Gaza war where many Palestinians were killed. He added that “some people are using this visit politically” to improve the image of Israel.

Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Vatican custodian of the holy sites, spoke in favour of the Pope’s visit. He said, “In spite of all the problems, it’s important to come and to encourage … This visit is aimed first and foremost at encouraging them [Christians] to remain in this country.”

Although the Pope will not be visiting Gaza, the Israeli government has pledged to provide exit permits so that people can get past the blockade and attend events and masses with the Pope.

Student Rania Mikhail said, “If his [the Pope’s] sermons end up changing things for us, we will be very happy … But if not, then this visit will have been in vain.”

Source: AFP. (Christian Today.com)

Roman Catholics are not Christians

No Evangelical Christians should agree with any news report that labels the Pope in Rome as a «Christian», neither are his followers in Gaza and Nazareth «Christians». The Pope in Rome do not believe that the Bible is the source alone, were man can understand the promises of God. Thats why He lives in many errors, and certainly in regards to Israel.

Christian Zionists in particular believes that all the Biblical promises God of the Bible has given the people of Israel is valid. The Messiah will return and save the Jewish people, forgive their sins, and punish those who have refused to help them.

No true Christian will ever utter the words that « Jerusalem is occupied». Jerusalem was liberated in 1967 from its Arab occupiers. Jerusalem is today the undivided capital of the state of Israel. Islam and the Vatican serve the same God, when they agree on attacking the Jewish heritage to their capital, the City of King David. Islam and the Vatican do not serve the God of the Bible.

We all regret the sufferings of both Muslims, Christians and Roman Catholics in Gaza. But Israel is not the source of their sufferings. They are victims of the people of Gaza not being able to get rid of a Radical Islamic government that works for the destruction of Israel. God of the Bibles will not declare people innocent, when they blame Israel for their own incompetence and sins. If they keep on excusing the evildoing of Hamas, they become evil them self.

Published: 24.04.09.